The reason alfalfa gets a bad rap for making horses “hot” is because alfalfa is higher in digestible energy and lower in acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) than grass hay. This is obviously not desirable for horses in intense work (such as endurance, eventing, racing) especially on a hot day. The list of ingredients thought to cause problems (make horses mentally hot or hyper and difficult to handle or train) include: oats, corn, barley, alfalfa (Lucerne) and molasses. If your horse is hot and difficult to handle, take a good look at your feed and exercise program before you label him problematic. Horses with high energy requirements can eat enough alfalfa to meet both energy and fiber requirements. Your email address will not be published. The fix just might be easier than you think! The average alfalfa has an ADF of 30.68%* and NDF of 38.87%* and provides 1,193 kcal/lb*. To speed up pellets soak them in hot water; just make sure it has cooled before feeding. Some claim that alfalfa hay will make a horse hot or crazy. when a horse gets hot off of alfalfa it has nothing to do with the energy of the fed but an allergic type reaction to the feed. Hay should always be green. © 2020 Copyright Kentucky Performance Products. Molds growing in the bales can cause respiratory tract symptoms, but the same molds can –– and do … You will want to make sure you stir it a few times, but you don't have to go crazy. This is an advantage to the horse in cold weather, but too much fat during hot weather would be a disadvantage in allowing the horse to lose body heat efficiently and keep cool. So while alfalfa does contain higher protein it is not the culprit when it comes to the increased energy levels that might make a horse “hot”. I had to stop. The application of nitrogen to accelerate growth of the plant will elevate protein levels in the grass well past the requirements of the average horse. Alfalfa hay will make a horse hot, or crazy. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of protein, both in content and quality. Alfalfa’s high palatability ensures that even the pickiest of eaters will maintain the proper balance in their diet. I'm very confused on feeding my girls, want the best but can afford the mid range. What is true is that protein “burns hotter” than fats and carbohydrates, so if a horse is using protein as an energy source they produce more internal body heat. Although alfalfa for horses is still often perceived as a relatively “new” feed, it has actually been used for thousands of years and the name “alfalfa” comes from Arabic, Persian and Kashmiri words meaning “best horse fodder” and “horse power”. but your body doens't know "what" it is craving just that it needs something. Grains and grain based feeds, molasses and forages like alfalfa/lucerne hay tend to be commonly blamed for making horses ‘hot’. Fact: Alfalfa is no more likely to cause an allergic reaction than any other type of hay. Most horses will not have adverse reactions to these high levels of protein but some horses may get hyperactive. Kentucky Performance Products is proud to offer a quality assurance promise backed by a money-back guarantee. Alternatively you can use alfalfa meal in compost teas when brewing with air pumps. Owners and managers see a direct correlation between “I fed my horse this, and my horse acted like that.” So, they assume it was the specific type of feed that caused the behavior. For decades the idea has circulated in barns that certain types of feed are responsible for making horses “hot.” Sometimes corn gets the blame, or oats, or molasses, or alfalfa, or any feed that is high in protein. Advantages of Alfalfa Cubes Reduced feed waste. We feed an alfalfa/timothy mix with the exception of my 2 super easy keepers that get fat on air and they get orchard/timothy. Higher ammonia concentration in urine will result in bad smelling stalls and lung airway irritation d. Excess protein, like excess energy has been implicated as a cause of developmental orthopedic disease in growing horses. Some horses simply can not tolerate alfalfa without showing signs of hot behavior. Seems to have a longer attention span! Intestinal blockages from a poor diet can cause your horse to colic. Alfalfa will make your horse hot. Make sure your horse is getting plenty of fiber by giving it at least 60% of its daily nutrition in hay. Hay that shows a moisture content of over 14 % can be as simple as soaking the meal compost. To three weeks the majority of its does alfalfa make a horse hot is foraged Grass hay when moisture conditions … the following are common! Up pellets soak them in hot conditions ii fiber, alfalfa and molasses a.m. – 5 p.m... 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